In follow-up experiments, mice lacking the gene that makes P2X7R did not develop kidney scarring in response to diabetes, suggesting that damage could be prevented, the scientists said.

The researchers also showed a drug that blocks P2X7R reduces high levels of infiltrating kidney macrophages, a hallmark of diabetic kidney disease, in diabetic rats.

The scientists have hailed this as a significant advance in the search for treatments.

Dr Robert Menzies, British Heart Foundation immediate fellow at Edinburgh University, said: “Diabetic kidney disease is reaching epidemic levels, but we are still searching for that blockbuster drug to help patients.

“This study is a major advance in understanding how kidney damage occurs in diabetes and where we might focus our efforts in finding a treatment.

“Our next studies are being designed to determine if the P2X7R-blocking drug, which is already known to be safe in humans, could reverse more severe kidney damage or even prevent it. These studies are a very encouraging move forward.”

The study, carried out in collaboration with UCL and Imperial College London, was supported by the Medical Research Council and Kidney Research UK, with findings published in the journal EBioMedicine.

Elaine Davies, director of research operations at Kidney Research UK, said: “With diabetes representing the most significant risk factor for developing kidney disease, we welcome this important step forward in our understanding of the mechanism behind diabetic kidney disease.

“We look forward to hearing about how this study develops.”

Source: BBC News

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Silver Star Diabetes is a registered charity campaigning to provide diabetes awareness. The Charity runs Mobile Diabetes Units which main role is to to carry out important diabetes testing and to promote culturally sensitive healthcare in the major towns and cities of Britain.
There are currently over 3 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and another over 1 million people who have type 2 diabetes but do not yet know it.